Low Or Medium Risk

If the farm provides boots and protective outer wear, use it. In this situation, it would be recommended to cover shoes/boots with 1 pair of plastic over boots when walking from your vehicle to the farm door

If plastic over boots are to be worn through out the farm, make sure that 2 pair are put on. This decreases the risk of tearing or punctures

Clean and disinfect your shoes/boots thoroughly when you arrive and when you leave a farm - cleaning when you arrive may seem overcautious but it assures the producer they are clean

When on farm, avoid walking in feed areas or watering areas

On leaving the farm, scrub boots and all equipment that is washable with clean water, a brush and detergent. Rinse and apply disinfectant. If possible, leave the disinfectant on

For sensitive equipment that cannot be washed, wipe down with a damp, paper towel. Follow up with a second paper towel dampened with disinfectant

Scrub hands, including fingernails, thoroughly with detergent before leaving the farm. When possible, wear disposable gloves. This will make hand washing more effective

If possible, leave contaminated materials on the farm

Remove dirty outerwear before entering your vehicle. Store in garbage bags or in plastic bins with lids for appropriate laundering. Plastic bins do not rip and are easy to wash

Many disinfectants degrade over time. Make sure your disinfectant is fresh. For example, ViralFx™ is usually only good for 1 week (or when it goes from pink to clear) once it is mixed in solution

At the end of the day : a. Remove any contaminated material from the designated "dirty" area of the vehicle b. Clean "dirty" area and floor mats by vacuum or brush out any organic matter, then disinfect so that the entire vehicle is "clean." c. Wash vehicle regularly, preferably with a power wash with special attention to tires and wheel wells

High Risk

Attempt to move from youngest animal groups to oldest animal groups

When equipment, boots and/or outer clothing becomes very dirty, take time to clean or change before moving to the next animal group on the farm

Only enter barns/pens that are essential for you to enter. Only have direct contact with the animals or groups of animals that it is essential for you to have contact with

Vehicle Equipment - Moderate Or High Risk Visits

Divide the vehicle into "clean" (e.g. interior passenger area) and "dirty" compartments (e.g. trunk). Never enter the "clean" compartment with soiled footwear or clothing. The vehicle is considered "clean" at the start of the day and a "dirty" compartment is designated for soiled materials after the first farm visit

Rubber (washable) floor mats are required for each person in the car or truck

A single piece of rubber or heavy plastic liner, which can be removed for cleaning and disinfection, is required to cover the whole trunk or truck box. Large plastic containers are placed on the liner as equipment carriers

Farm Equipment Kit - Moderate Or High Risk Visits

Clean coveralls and boots that are easily disinfected and do not collect organic debris. Boots with narrow deep treads should be avoided. Consider purchasing nylon coveralls for use in wet, dirty conditions. Although not completely waterproof, they are less permeable than cotton and are less apt to soak through. They are also windproof, and light, and stand up well in the washing machine. They can be damaged in the dryer but they do air dry quickly

Winter parka (if worn) made of moisture resistant fabric they should be restricted to use on a single premises per day and cleaned/sponged with disinfectant solution before re-use. Consider a three-in-one jacket with detachable shell made of nylon, and an inner liner of nylon and polypropylene. These stand up well to frequent washing

If required, plastic non-permeable tool box that can be easily cleaned and disinfected and contains all testing equipment

If required, sharps container that is disposable or readily disinfected

For proper cleaning of boots and equipment and to avoid biofilms: a stainless steel pail, a boot brush, a detergent and a disinfectant are essential. Boot brushes are normally are 11 cm x 11 cm (4" x 4"). Do not use a larger brush. Plastic pails can be used - see point 11

Detergents can be any common dish detergent. They may double as a hand cleaner

Use ViralFx™ according to label and know the MSDS information. Remember that ViralFx™ require at least a 5 minutes contact time to be effective

If water is not provided on site, bring at least four litres

Testing equipment, including plastic/metal clipboard and cover, forms, etc., is kept "clean" until used on a premiseAll plastic equipment, carriers, etc. should be replaced regularly as any deep scratches cannot be readily cleaned and disinfected